Llewellyn The Ultimate Guide to the Rider Waite Tarot, Paperback Review
A 216 page illustrated paperback guide to the Rider Waite tarot, translated into English from the original German by Johannes Fiebig and Evelin Burger.
| Publisher | Llewellyn |
|---|---|
| Authors | Johannes Fiebig, Evelin Burger |
| Binding | Paperback |
| Edition | Illustrated |
| Pages | 216 |
| Published Language | English |
| Best for | Tarot readers wanting a dedicated illustrated reference specifically for the Rider Waite deck |
Product Overview
This title is specifically dedicated to the Rider Waite tarot deck, as the title states, positioning it as a deck-specific reference rather than a general overview covering multiple tarot deck systems.
The listing credits two authors, Johannes Fiebig and Evelin Burger, confirming a collaborative writing partnership behind this guide.
Being the first entry in the Ultimate Guide to the Tarot series, according to the title's parenthetical note, positions this as the opening volume in a broader planned collection of deck-specific guides.
At 216 pages, this is a substantial single volume reference, sized to cover a tarot deck's cards and symbolism in meaningful depth.
Score Breakdown
This verdict is based on the manufacturer's stated specifications, the current Amazon listing and its product images, the confirmed materials and design, real buyer ratings, and our research into the product category. Scores are consistent editorial judgments, not laboratory measurements, and we did not receive a paid sample.
Key Features
Title confirms this is a deck-specific reference rather than a general multi-deck tarot overview.
Substantial single volume sized to cover one deck's cards and symbolism in meaningful depth.
Listing records the edition as Illustrated, pairing written explanation with visual reference material.
Original text written in German by Fiebig and Burger, translated into English for this edition.
Opens the broader Ultimate Guide to the Tarot series of planned deck-specific guides.
Johannes Fiebig and Evelin Burger are both credited as authors in the listing's byline information.
Design and Build Quality
Paperback binding keeps this reference light and practical for a reader to keep alongside their tarot deck for regular consultation during readings.
The listing records the edition as Illustrated, confirming the guide pairs written explanation with visual reference material throughout.
One detail worth flagging directly: the listing states an item weight of roughly 2.31 pounds, a figure that reads inconsistently high for a 216 page paperback and most likely reflects a listing data quirk rather than the book's actual physical heft.
Published by Llewellyn, a publisher widely associated with tarot, oracle and metaphysical reference titles, this placement is consistent with the book's specific subject matter.
Performance in Everyday Use
Being dedicated specifically to the Rider Waite deck, rather than covering tarot generally, is the structural feature that distinguishes this title from a broader introductory tarot book, giving it room to go deep on this one specific deck's imagery and meanings.
The listing records the original language as German, with English as the published language, confirming this edition is a translation of Fiebig and Burger's original text rather than material written directly in English.
Being the first entry in the Ultimate Guide to the Tarot series is useful context for a reader who may want to explore companion deck-specific guides planned within the same series.
No feature text accompanies this particular listing, which means readers evaluating the book from the product page alone have only the title, series note and author credits to go on rather than descriptive marketing copy about specific card interpretations covered.
Overall the listing data describes a substantial, illustrated, translated reference built specifically around the Rider Waite deck as the opening volume in a broader deck-specific series.
How It Performs: The Evidence
| Decision factor | What we found | Evidence and measurement | Score | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Page count | 216 pages | Listing states the book runs to 216 pages | 8.8 | Sized to cover the Rider Waite deck's cards and symbolism in meaningful depth |
| Edition designation | Illustrated | Listing records the edition as Illustrated | 8.8 | Confirms the guide pairs written explanation with visual reference material throughout |
| Author credits | Fiebig, Johannes and Burger, Evelin | Listing's byline information names both Fiebig, Johannes and Burger, Evelin as authors | 8.6 | Confirms a collaborative writing partnership behind this specific deck guide |
| Original language | German, translated to English | Listing records the original language as German and the published language as English | 8.3 | Confirms this edition is a translation of the authors' original German text |
| Binding | Paperback | Listing classifies the binding as Paperback | 8.2 | Keeps the guide light and practical for regular consultation alongside an actual tarot deck |
| Publisher | Llewellyn | Listing attributes the publisher as Llewellyn | 8.6 | Identifies a publisher widely associated with tarot and metaphysical reference titles |
| Stated weight | 2.31 lb | Listing states item weight of roughly 2.31 pounds | 4.0 | This figure reads inconsistently high for a 216 page paperback and most likely reflects a listing data quirk |
Who Should Buy It
- Tarot readers using the Rider Waite deck specifically
- Readers wanting deep single-deck reference material
- Collectors of the Ultimate Guide to the Tarot series
- Regular consultation alongside an actual tarot deck
- Readers interested in illustrated tarot reference guides
- Gift purchases for tarot practitioners
- Readers wanting a general all-decks tarot overview rather than a deck-specific Rider Waite reference
- No feature text accompanies this specific listing
- Stated item weight appears inconsistent with the page count
- Not suited to readers wanting a multi-deck overview
- Translated text may read differently than original-language writing
- No stated glossary or index detail in this listing
Full Specifications
How It Compares
| Feature | Llewellyn | Typical option | Higher-tier option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck focus | Rider Waite specifically | Multi-deck general overview | Deck-specific |
| Edition | Illustrated | Text only | Illustrated |
| Original language | German, translated | Originally English | Translated |
| Series context | First of a deck-specific series | Standalone only | Series opener |
| Page count | 216 pages | Shorter overview | Similar depth |
| Authorship | Two collaborative authors | Single author | Two authors |
| Binding | Paperback | Hardcover | Paperback |
| Feature text provided | None | Detailed | None |
Alternatives Worth a Look
At 216 pages in this illustrated paperback, The Ultimate Guide to the Rider Waite Tarot gives this specific deck dedicated, in-depth coverage, translated into English from Johannes Fiebig and Evelin Burger's original German text, and positioned as the opening entry in a broader deck-specific series. No feature text accompanies the listing, and the stated item weight reads inconsistently high for a book this size, so readers should expect a light, practical paperback despite what that one figure suggests, built for regular consultation alongside an actual Rider Waite deck.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this guide specific to one tarot deck?
Yes, the title confirms this is dedicated specifically to the Rider Waite deck rather than a general multi-deck tarot overview.
Who wrote this guide?
Johannes Fiebig and Evelin Burger are both credited as authors in the listing's byline information.
Is this book illustrated?
Yes, the listing records the edition as Illustrated, confirming visual reference material accompanies the written explanation.
Was this originally written in English?
No, the listing records the original language as German, with this edition translated into English.
Is this part of a series?
Yes, the title's parenthetical note identifies it as the first entry in the Ultimate Guide to the Tarot series.
How long is the book?
216 pages, sized to cover the Rider Waite deck's cards and symbolism in meaningful depth.
Is the stated weight accurate?
The listing states an item weight of roughly 2.31 pounds, which reads inconsistently high for a 216 page paperback and is most likely a listing data quirk rather than the actual physical weight.
Who publishes this guide?
Llewellyn is credited as the publisher, a brand widely associated with tarot and metaphysical reference titles.
This review is based on the publisher's stated specifications for this edition, the current product listing and its images, the stated page count, binding, edition designation, language information and author credits, plus our own general knowledge of how deck-specific tarot reference guides are typically structured. It is editorial analysis of the edition itself, not an evaluation of its specific card interpretations, and we have flagged the listing's weight figure as inconsistent with the book's stated page count.